Hustle and Bustle

THerefore being jUStified by faiTh,

we have peace with God through our Lord JEsus Christ:

Romans 5:1 

Do you ever create your own hustle and bustle? Maybe you've added busyness to your Christmas season. Perhaps your desire to get one more gift for everyone has hurled you into a whirlwind of frenzy and you're not sure how to break free. Maybe now it will feel more like Christmas?

It's funny...well, not really...that we do this in our relationship with Christ too. We add activities, checklists, and requirements that keep our heads spinning. While designed to draw us to Him, they've only driven us into a furor of religious activity that has yet to calm our anxious hearts. 

Paul tells us in Romans that our peace with God is possible not through a strategic plan of action, but rather through our faith in His Son. Our peace doesn't come through a list of accomplishments, but instead through something that was accomplished by our Savior. 

So while you're tying that final ribbon in place, rest in the peace that passes all understanding, the peace that comes from knowing Christ, the peace that eliminates all hustle and bustle.

~Rebecca Phillips

Stand and See

Stuck between a rock and hard place. 

Caught between the devil and the deep, blue sea.

Sound familiar? Some situations in life just seem made for Hollywood: full of drama and danger.

In our Sunday School class, we've been studying about the crossing of the Red Sea. Those folks camped by the sea were just in a panic. It seems remarkable how quickly they forgot about all the wonders they had seen in Egypt. They were sure that God had forsaken them, and here's the amazing thing: They were ready to return to Egypt.  They were so hungry for security and escape from danger that they were willing to return to slavery, to back-breaking labor and oppression.

Then Moses stood before them and said, "Do not be afraid. Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today" (Exodus 14:13).  We all know what happened next. God caused a strong east wind to blow all night long. In the morning, thousands of people, along with their flocks and herds, walked across the Red Sea bed into the promises that God had for them.

What a miracle they would have missed if they had fled back to imagined comfort and safety!  It is so tempting to want everything to just be calm and normal, to enjoy a dependable routine.  I'm as much a creature of habit as anyone, I guess.  I love a schedule and knowing what's coming next. But if we never get into those hard places, we will never see God's amazing deliverance.

I hope the coming weeks are full of joy and peace for you. But if they aren't, try the advice of Moses: Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD. Then be sure to share with the rest of us so we can rejoice with you in God's deliverance.

--Sherry Poff

Contagious Thanks

"Dear Jesus,

Thank you for my mommy and daddy. Thank you for my baby. Thank you for my toys. Thank you for my food. Thank you for my Bible. Thank you for firetrucks.

Amen."

A sweet three-year-old in my Sunday school class was full of thanks yesterday when it was his turn to pray. I couldn't help but think that he had learned how to talk to Jesus and to be thankful from his parents. 

Our attitude of thanks is contagious, but even more so our verbalization of it. I often feel grateful for gifts, acts of kindness, encouraging words, and "stuff." My intentions to thank people are huge...but my follow-through is lacking. If a child is going to mimic me, I want it to be my thankfulness that is emulated.

So, here are just a few things that I am thankful for this morning:

• friends who pray for me
• parents who love me
• grandparents who are still working hard at age 90
• sisters who include me in their lives from great distances
• brothers-in-law who love God and love my sisters and nieces and nephews immensely
• a church family who consistently affirms and encourages me
• "Lighthouse kids" who keep me laughing...and dancing...or both at the same time
• My Bible and the many resources available to help me learn and understand more
• And, of course, firetrucks...what an important role they play in our community

Finally, I'm thankful for the opportunity to learn and grow from my sweet, young Sunday school class. While it's a role I didn't expect to be filling, it's been a pure joy to be around these precious children every Sunday morning! Their thankfulness is contagious!

Happy Thanksgiving!

~Rebecca Phillips

Pull the Trigger!

Have you heard the news? Scientists have determined that "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls is the number one catchiest song. Don't fret if you don't know it. They aren't saying it's especially wonderful--just hard to get out of your head. We've all had days when a song or line of poetry--well, maybe not all of us on the poetry, but a song for sure!--just keeps looping in the brain.  What possible good can come of that?  How about using it as a trigger to pray?

There are songs that I associate with certain people or places: "Above All" reminds me of Togo.  "Blessed be the Name" makes me think of Rebecca Phillips. On Sunday morning when we sang "Grace Alone," I'll bet I wasn't the only one to think of Carol Kilpatrick. I've tried to train myself to pray for these people--or for those who miss them--when I get that musical reminder.  

This strategy can work with more than songs.  A few years ago, we had a mini women's conference, and I got this tip from our own Laura Welsh.  She said that whenever she sees a squirrel, she prays for Vesma Sandberg. She gave us other examples of prayer triggers: using a crock pot we got for a gift can remind us to pray for the giver; hanging up towels in the bathroom can nudge me to pray for the one who used the towel.  It was a practical suggestion that I have learned to use myself. Whenever I pass a stand of pampas grass on my way to school, I often pray for Andy Pappas because I remember Carol writing about the beautiful tassels on the grass in her yard. No doubt, there are similar sights and sounds in your day that bring to mind those in our midst who need prayer.

James tells us that "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man" is effective and powerful (5:16). That goes for us women as well. The reminder on Sunday to pray for the persecuted church was sobering, but it's encouraging to know that prayer is something that can never be taken away from us.

On more than one occasion, I've asked Pastor Euler to pray for something and seen him bow his head right there and talk to God about my request. We all need prayer, and we need each other. Let's be sure we don't just say, "I'll pray for you," but actually do it!

What prayer triggers work for you? Share in the comments.

--Sherry Poff

Summertime in My Heart

“To everything there is a season…”

…except, of course, for flip-flops. I’m pretty sure even Solomon would have agreed. I mean, didn’t he wear sandals year-round?

It’s so hard to say goodbye to summer…some years harder than others. It’s not that I don’t love other seasons. I love the Fall colors, crisp air, pumpkins, and crunchy leaves. I even love a good Winter snow…if I don’t have to drive in it or shovel it.

But, I miss the sun shining in the mornings urging me to start the day with a smile.

So how do I get through the darker days? I remind myself that I have been given the Son…eternal, bright, and glorious.

Every day the enemy tempts me to forget that I am a completely new creation. He lies about my identity, my worth, and my purpose. He wants to keep me in the dark about the power that I now possess in Christ.

My flesh is used to old habits and sin patterns that confuse and conflict with my spirit. I often place myself back in the chains that have already been broken, and I behave as though I believe the lies of the enemy.

So, I must surround myself with truth. Every day, I review what Christ did for me and in me. I read parts of Hebrews and Romans to refresh my memory about my new life, status, and position. I rehearse 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 to dispel any notion that I’m still part sinner rather than fully saint.

Truth melts the cold that threatens to defeat and discourage, and just like the unknown hymn writer says:

               It is summertime in my heart.

               It is summertime in my heart.

               Since Jesus saved me, new life He gave me.

               Even in wintertime it’s summer in my heart.

So, I may be packing up most of the flip-flops (keepin’ a few out just in case), and replacing them with boots, but nothing can replace the summertime that Christ has brought to my heart!

~Rebecca Phillips

Landing Gear Loaded

Have you ever seen a brightly, multi-colored, aero-dynamic goose land in a pond? As it gets closer to the water, it briskly flaps its wings to break the fall. Then the back of its heels touch the water and, forever so brief of a moment, it looks like it is “skiing.” Very smooth, very graceful landing.

Then there is the dirty-gray, clumsy looking pelican! Having walked a few beaches, I have watched more than one pelican make its landing on the vast ocean. Most often it has been a single bird so the lone pelican had my full attention. A fantastic fisher with that huge scoop of a pouch-like beak. But when a pelican decides to ride the waves for a while and comes in for a landing, what I have seen and almost heard was – wait for it— PLOP! Graceful? Not even close! It would be like taking a big bowl of wet, sticky bread dough, lifting it high, and dumping it on the counter – PLOP!

G – I am a goose and I do not Plop!

P – I am a pelican and I do not “ski.”

G – You are you, and I am me.

P – Your head on me, and my head on you, We’d both look like a “silly goose!”

G – So, you stay you, and I’ll stay me.

Two amazingly sculptured water fowl with two distinct approaches but they both hit their landing with bodies afloat. Live in the “skin” God designed for you. Or perhaps I should say, fly in the weather with your own “feathers.”

“I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that well.” – Psalm 139:14, NIV

Blessings, Gloria Sines

Memory and Meditation

Here is a true story about the value of memorizing and meditating on scripture--and of the power of music to aid in learning. My memory work for this month is I Corinthians 13. Going over the verses again, I remembered this story that I wrote for a devotional book a few years ago.*

I lived on a quiet street and enjoyed a good relationship with my neighbor. We shared produce from our gardens and tips about growing peonies. When I learned that she had lied to me about a community issue, however, interactions became strained. Working in my yard one day, I seemed to feel her eyes watching me.

I wanted to shoot angry looks her way, make her sorry for her deceitfulness. But I had been sharing Christ with my neighbor; I needed to demonstrate his love. Struggling with my emotions, I remembered a song my children had learned in Vacation Bible School. It was an adaptation of I Corinthians 13: “Love is patient; love is kind; . . . Love is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrong.” Singing the song to myself, I waved and smiled and kept pruning the shrubs.

Months later, my neighbor approached my car as I pulled to a stop in the driveway. “I got baptized this weekend,” she said. “I thought you’d like to know.”

Thank God for His word, for those who encourage us to learn it, and for Vacation Bible School songs!

--Sherry Poff

*Love is a Verb Devotional, Gary Chapman with James Stuart Bell. Bethany House, 2011.

Calvary Love in my Words

Calvary Love in my Words

“I used to go to church, then I heard the youth pastor making of someone in the youth group.  I decided that if a leader did that, there must not be anything to this Christian thing.  I’m not sure anymore that there is a God.”

            “You’ve got your eyes on the wrong person,” was my response.  “You have to put your eyes on Jesus.  Read the book of John.  The other gospels talk about what He did.  John talks about who He is.  See what He said about Himself.  See what others said about Him.   See who He is.”’

            I hope it made an impact on that student.  He came back two days later and said he had already read John and had learned some neat things.  But the whole interchange made a different impact on me.  I saw in a new way Jesus’ words in Matthew 12:34-38.

            The mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.  The good man out of his good treasure brings forth what is good: and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth what is evil.  And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for in the day of judgment.  

            I can say easily that I don’t swear; I don’t take the name of God in vain; I am usually kind; I am usually careful with my words.  I can justify myself in many ways, but I suddenly felt exposed.  How often I have thoughtlessly talked to my fellow teachers about a student or what a student turned in or said or looked like.  How often I have been disrespectful in what I say about a student.  Am I trying to make myself look good by saying, “See what I have to put up with”?

Amy Carmichael, the missionary to India addressed this in her little book If.

            If, in any way, I belittle those who I am called to serve. . .

if I talk of their weak points in contrast, perhaps, with what I think of as my stronger points…

if I adopt a superior attitude, forgetting to consider the wisdom of the voice that asks me, inwardly, “Who made you different from the one you are criticizing—and what do you have that you have not been given?. . .

if I can easily discuss the shortcomings or the sins of any man or woman. . .

if I can speak in an off-handed way, even of a child’s wrongdoing. . .

then I know nothing of Calvary love.

            Oh, Lord!  Teach me to love with Calvary love!  I am sure that youth director who offended my student did not understand the harm he had done and I do not mean harm either, but both of us are wrong.

            Change the thought-life in me when I strip others of dignity. . .or reduce them point by point. . .in order to build me up.  And give me Your voice, to speak words of value. . . admiration. . .encouragement. . .compassion. . .true kindness. . . .  (You Are my Hiding Place by David Hazard)

                                                                                    ~~Faith Himes Lamb

            

Selfish

This week's cup can be found at the link below and will cause the woman often defined by her daily routine to find joy in her Lord as she performs the tasks He's given to her.
Enjoy getting to know Brandi Prairie a little better as you relate to her struggles and joys. Be encouraged by her real, honest words about life as a stay-at-home mom. Follow her example of seeking God's Word for strength to face the tasks God has given you.
And then pray for her. She's so much more than a mom, so much more than the youth pastor's wife. She's a child of the one true King, and God is using her to impact the world around her.

Read this week's Cup of Grace here.

Starting Now!

I often feel at the end of Saturday the same way I feel at the end of summer: Where did it go?

I typically have so many hopes and plans for "time off."  I think about the books I will read, the rooms I will clean, the yard work I will accomplish.  Then the day--or the season--comes and goes with only a fraction of those items completed.  If I dwell on it, it can be discouraging.

I suppose an alternative would be to make no plans, have no ambition, and thus experience no disappointment. But here's another idea: Trust in the God of all time that He is ordering my days. Arise each morning with a prayer for Him to guide my hours and moments, be sensitive to the needs of those around me, do the work I have before me, and end the day with no regrets.

That is so easy to write, and so tricky to actually do. Here's a bigger thought. I don't want to get to the end of my life--a prospect that is easier to imagine with each passing season--and think, What happened?

With the psalmist, I am asking God to teach me to "number [my] days" so that I may "apply [my] heart to wisdom" (Psalm 90:12). I don't wish to be morbid, but it's an undeniable fact that my days are numbered--and yours are too.

My memory passage for this month is Proverbs chapter 3. We are all familiar with verses 5 and 6: "Trust in the LORD with all thy heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding; in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path."

I don't know that it's possible to live with no regrets at all, but I'm hoping and praying that I can come to the end of my days in peace and confidence that I did what God put me here for. 

Starting now.

       --Sherry Poff 

Step by Step

Step by Step

He does not lead me year by year,

Nor even day by day,

But step by step my path unfolds,

My Lord directs my way.

Tomorrow’s plans I do not know,

I only know this minute;

But He will say, “This is the way,

By faith now walk ye in it.”

And I am glad that it is so;

Today’s enough to bear,

And when tomorrow comes, His grace

Shall far exceed its care.

What need to worry then, or fret?

The God who gave His Son

Holds all my moments in His hands,

And gives them one by one.

By Barbara C. Ryberg

I memorized this poem when I was young and wondering where life would take me.  I have quoted it many times since, both to myself and others.  I have even taught it to my girls.  But I am back there, back to quoting it often, especially just before falling asleep.

            Life has many twists, some difficult, some wonderful.  Though I see many wonderful things about my life right now and the steps God has led me through, right now I am facing one that is not quite so wonderful.  There are some unknowns in my life right now.

            I would like to say that I have trusted God through the whole process, that I have said I am glad I don’t know the future, that I can look at the future with trusting eyes.  But I would be lying if I said that.  I am struggling.  Sometimes we have to work through our doubts, our supposes.  We have to face our questions.  That’s where I am now.

            But step by step I am remembering that I can trust God.  I am remembering that if God loves me enough to give His Son for me, I can trust Him for the next step.  My Lord directs my way.

                                                                                    ~~Faith Himes Lamb

            

Refreshment

Coca-Cola^® advertisers love the word “refreshing.”  Ice-cold, refreshing Coke^®!  Ahhh!  I want some of that fizzy goodness right now!  Who doesn’t enjoy being refreshed?

Refresh means “to give new strength or energy to; reinvigorate” (Google dictionary).  It’s the opposite of being weary or depleted.  When tired, we refresh ourselves with rest.  When hungry or thirsty, we refresh ourselves with food and drink.  When mentally weary, we refresh ourselves with entertainment or a change of pace. 

In II Timothy 1, the Apostle Paul introduces us to an unknown character, Onesiphorus, who was the embodiment of refreshment.  Onesiphorus sought Paul on the streets of Rome until he found him – in a stinking jail cell.  We aren’t told what Onesiphorus did to refresh Paul, but Paul needed everything and was alone.  In those days, prisoners weren’t provided the basic necessities of life.  If you had food, water, clothing, a warm blanket, it was because someone on the outside provided it.  Presumably, Onesiphorus was that someone for Paul.

Paul’s burdens were obvious, but the people we know may carry unseen burdens.  In our prosperous culture, we have to be intentional if we are to discern the needs of others.  If we ask Him, God reveals ways we might give strength or encouragement to another.  Who is enduring a health crisis, a divorce, financial problems, mental difficulties?  Who has stress overload? 

Everyone struggles with life, and a kind act can provide relief. Refreshing others doesn’t have to be a production. I simply appreciate it when someone holds a door open for me or allows me to pull into traffic. 

People need to know we care – that they are on our minds and in our prayers.  The “gift of presence” lets others know they are worth our time.  The weary are refreshed by those who listen to them.

When our family was moving, the weather was oppressively hot, and I was overwhelmed.  A friend arrived with a basketful of supplies and scrubbed my house clean!  I was deeply refreshed. 

People say, “Call me if you need anything,” but I won’t.  I guess I’m too proud.    I think I’m not alone in this.

But what if we are the ones in need of refreshment?  Jesus says, 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)

His beauty, truth and goodness are balms for our aching souls.  Obeying Jesus helps us avoid unnecessary problems, and the things He requires of us – His yoke – is a much lighter burden than what we choose for ourselves.  He asks us to learn, listen, and align our lives with His commandments so that He can shape us into something beautifully refreshing.  It’s refreshment that’s more satisfying and long-lasting than any can of Coke^®!

Joyce Hague

Faithful

Who is happy with the World Cup outcome?  I'm sure Amy O'Rear is!  I have to confess, I was leaning toward the American team (that's Argentina), but the Germans were certainly a worthy group of players.  One thing that appeals to me about the World Cup is the way it helps us mark time. For example, the last time the tournament was played, in 2010, I was still involved in the Togo schools project and watched some of the games with African friends.  That was an unforgettable experience.  Elections are the same, and the Olympics.

These events work as memory aids because they happen on a regular basis.  Somehow it's comforting to see special days and celebrations come around again. The world is still in order, we think. It's all going to be ok.

If man-made events are comforting, think of the regularity of the turning of the planets. We all enjoyed that fabulous "Super Moon" on Saturday and look forward to two more before the summer is over. We know this is so--we depend on it being so--because of the regular, predictable turning of the earth and moon. Fishermen chart the tides and armies plan their movements based on dependable, observable patterns in nature.

Genesis 1:14 tells us that God made the sun, moon, and stars "for signs and seasons, and for days and years."  We also have the promise that "while the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease" (Genesis 8:22).  We all expect the sun to rise at a predetermined time tomorrow morning; we are planning on a certain amount of daylight before we close our doors, pull our shades, and lie down again to rest.

It's a simple but profound truth: God is faithful.  He says through the prophet Malachi, "I am the LORD; I do not change" (3:6).  Jesus, we learn in Hebrews, is "the same yesterday, today, and forever" (13:8). Faithful as the sun to rise and the tides to flow, God will be there when we need him. More reliable even than that amazing USA goalie, Jesus has us in his sight.

I think I will sleep well tonight.

--Sherry Poff

An Eternal Satisfaction

"A thread of eternity runs through everything..."
That may or may not be the exact quote from Gary Goodge in yesterday's morning worship service. I didn't write it down, but it stuck with me and added a different perspective to a question I've been processing over the last few weeks.

Why are we never satisfied with our own bodies, circumstances, jobs, pleasures, etc.? 

While the most common responses include answers such as personal sin, brainwashing by the media, and one's childhood, these never quite satisfied my inquiry. While I understand how the consequences of my sin, the message of the media, and the baggage of my childhood impact my current level of contentment, I wonder if this "thread of eternity" also plays a role.

Why am I unhappy in my body? Why do I care about keeping my weight down, my muscles toned, or my skin tanned? Why do I constantly wish for a new hairstyle, new nail polish designs, new clothes, or new accessories? Maybe it's because I'm self-centered. Maybe it's because I see pictures of perfectly sculptured bodies in the media. Maybe it's because I grew up in a community of people who were always trying the newest fad diet. But what if it's because my spirit knows that my future does not include an aching body plagued with disease or limbs with limited usability? What if my dissatisfaction in this life has nothing to do with this life? (2 Corinthians 5:4-5)

Why do I get frustrated with the injustices in my life? Why do I get angry with drivers who cut me off without using a blinker? Why do I blame others when something doesn't go my way? Why do I shake my head at the young girls who get pregnant out of wedlock when all I've ever wanted was to be a mom? Maybe it's because I'm a control freak, maybe it's because I've watched sitcoms that have attached my value as a person to my job or marital status, maybe it's because I grew up in a community where my future significance was defined as "wife and mother." But what if it's because my spirit knows that vengeance belongs to the Judge and that he has already cancelled my debt and the debt of those who have "wronged" me? What if my dissatisfaction in this life has nothing to do with this life? (Hebrews 10:17-18,30)

Why do I grow weary with my job? Why do I prioritize the aspects of my job that I enjoy and procrastinate the others? Why do I cringe when the alarm clock goes off in the morning? Why do I countdown to the weekends and grow jealous over others' vacations? Maybe it's because I'm lazy and selfish. Maybe it's because I'm inundated with commercials about the best places to vacation while staring at my less than abundant bank account. Maybe it's because I grew up in a society that gives accolades to the workaholic (even in ministry jobs), yet values retirement plans. But what if it's because my spirit knows that my rest lies in the One who made me and that my destiny is not dependent upon my work hours? What if my dissatisfaction in this life has nothing to do with this life? (Galatians 6:9)

Why can I never get enough of life's pleasures? Why am I drawn to clothing stores when I'm stressed...or not stressed? Why do I decorate my office in beach paraphernalia that constantly reminds me of where I'm not? Why do I stock up on Moose Tracks ice cream when it's B1G1 at Publix even when I know it's unhealthy? Maybe it's because I'm prone to compulsive behaviors. Maybe it's because I'm consumed with advertisements for beach rental property. Mabye it's because I grew up in a world of instant gratification. But what if it's because my spirit knows that the God who gives me good and perfect gifts in this temporary life is the God that gives me life eternal? What if my dissatisfaction in this life has nothing to do with this life? (James 1:12-17)

What if my dissatisfaction with this life is really about my longing for the next? What if my struggle with discontentment is related to the "thread of eternity" that has weaved its way into every aspect of my current life? What if it's because "...he has put eternity into man's heart...(Eccl. 3:11)."

I'm not excusing the choices I've made as a result of my discontentment, I just wonder if the reason that this world doesn't satisfy is simply because it doesn't satisfy.

Psalm 16

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”
3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.
4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.
5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
11 You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (emphasis mine)

~Rebecca Phillips

How Beautiful!

 

I was sitting out back in my little herb garden recently, pondering life and the fungus that has taken over my mint, when I noticed a little worm of some sort crawling across the paving stones. I am a lover of bugs and most living things, but I have to say—this was an ugly worm. It was exactly the color of nasty clay mud with a beady black head. I believe my lip curled in distaste as I watched it.

But then—as I watched it—I began to notice how effortlessly the little creature made his way across the stones, how he smoothly negotiated the cracks between the stones, cracks easily a third of his own length. He just rippled along, seemingly with definite purpose.

What kind of brain is required to make that happen? And how tiny must the brain be? What a marvel of creation is this little brown worm! When we are advised in Proverbs to “go to the ant . . .Consider her ways and be wise,” I know the diligence of the ants is the main point. But taking note of God’s tiny creatures can afford a different kind of wisdom as well—wisdom to understand that beauty is about more than looks.

Recently I saw a post on Facebook that I just had to share.  It said something like this: I may not do everything well, but at least I don’t have ugly children.  I thought that little gem was clever enough to share.  So I did.  But then I thought better of it.  Who does have ugly children? Does anyone? No one I know. All our children are beautiful because they are our dear ones. It’s more than a cliché that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Ray Stevens used to sing that song “Everything is Beautiful.” I am not ready to go that far, but many things are beautiful. God has made an amazing world and given incredible talents and gifts to creatures as humble as worms. Jesus advised his hearers to observe the birds of the air and the grass of the field to see examples of God’s loving care (Matthew 6). Worms will also work.  

 

--Sherry Poff

 

Hands Open Again!

Hands Open Again!

                In September of 2011, I wrote a blog post for Cup of Grace.  I entitled it “Hands Open!”  This one must be titled, “Hands Open Again!”  Somehow I forget what God has taught me and I must learn it over and over again.  So I come back to the lesson.  I cannot control my life or anyone else’s.  That is God’s job. 

This is what I wrote in 2011:

Over the years God has said it over and over again in many situations.  He is still saying it to me today.  “Acknowledge that you have no control over people or situations.  Relinquish them to Me.  Let Me do My job!”

            To remind me, I had my son-in-law take a picture of my hands, held out open to God.  So in my house you will see that picture.  In my office you will see that picture.  On my keychain you will see that picture.

            “See, God.  My mother is in my open hands, for You to do Your job.  My children are on my open hands, for You to do Your job.  My daughter-in-law and sons-in-law are on my open hands, for You to do Your job.  I surrender control of what is not mine to control.”

            What are you clutching in your hands?  What are you trying to control when it is not your job?  Hold out your hands before you, open flat.  Visualize it.  See the person or the situation.  Say aloud, “God, he/she/it is here on my open hands.  I will not clutch or grab.  I relax my grasp.  Do whatever you see best.”

            I sometimes raise my voice when I say it.  I sometimes cry when I say it.  But I say it.  Will you?

          Some things have changed.  God took Mother just a couple of weeks after I released her.  Other things are still issues.  And then there are new issues.

          A friend I have had for forty years has just had surgery for breast cancer.  It was very advanced.  The surgery was extensive and the future is uncertain.

          The son of another friend has been in a motorcycle accident.  He is on life support.  The future is uncertain.

          I have children who have chosen their own ways, not God’s way.  The future is uncertain.

          I am facing some physical issues that could be serious or could be minor.  The future is uncertain.

          I am struggling, I admit.  Again I must say, “God, my hands are open.  I will not clutch or grab.  I relax my grasp.  Do whatever you see best.”

          What do you need to release?  What do you need to hold out on your open hands?  God is in control.

                                                              Faith Himes Lamb

O to be Like Thee!

O to be Like Thee!

“Music is an outburst of the soul.”  (Frederick Delius, composer)  So to encourage my soul and admonish my soul, I often sing on the way to work.  Perhaps that is one of the advantages of a little longer commute.  I often am not ready for the noise of the radio or CD player, but am willing to listen to my own voice.

          One of my greatest desires is to be like Jesus, to reflect Him in everything I do, even in my facial expressions and the way I listen to people, the way I respond to people.

          So yesterday morning on the way to school I was singing,

O to be like Thee,

O to be like Thee,

Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art.

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness,

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

Then I sang,

                        Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,

                        All His wonderful passion and purity.

                        O Thou Spirit Divine, all my nature refine,

                        Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

          Suddenly I thought, “All my nature refine?  Wait a minute! That means getting rid of the impurities!  You know, hard times, difficult times, pointing out all the things in my life that aren’t like Him.  Ouch!  Maybe. . . . ?”

          So sure enough, yesterday was a day that I was dragged through my own dirt and overwhelmed by my inadequacies.  I was emotionally exhausted by the end of the day.  My eyes were puffy and I dragged myself home and went to bed early.

          I haven’t been able to get away from that concept.  If I truly want to be like Jesus, I will have to change some things.  And, as I tell my speech students, if you don’t know what you are doing, you won’t fix it.  So this painful period of seeing where I fail is necessary to refine me so the beauty of Jesus can be seen in me.

          Psalm 17:15 says, “I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your image.”  The day is coming when I will be found in His image.  How I long for that day!  I will be like Him one day.  Until then, the refining, purifying process must go on to make me more like Him.

                                                                      ~~Faith Himes Lamb

Thankful for Life

Almost 35 years ago, my very ill mother was on bed-rest as she awaited the birth of my twin sister and me. We arrived two months earlier than our due date, having not been expected to live. We were tiny and frail living our first weeks in the NICU at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, TN.

I don't know why God chose to spare our lives or why He blessed us with health, but I do know that I'm so very glad He did. 

I did not picture my life at 35 to be what it is today. While full of incredible experiences and precious friendships, my life is missing some significant "dreams come true." Honestly, it has not been easy to approach yet another year without a husband or children. In fact, I have cried out to God several times, "Hello! Did you forget there was a twin? If you're going to bring me a husband, would you consider doing it soon so that he will know what I looked like before all my hair turned gray? Thanks!"

But then I read Psalm 139:13-17. Familiar verses. I almost didn't pay attention to them.

13 For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully (to cause astonishment and awe) and wonderfully (distinct, separate) made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.

17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!

I am a twin, an identical twin. We have the same hair and eyes, the same gait and mannerisms. We even have the same thoughts occasionally and have been known to show up in the same outfits without prior planning. Yet, we're separate. We are distinct from one another. And it causes astonishment and awe.

God has not promised every dream of mine to become a reality. Yet His thoughts toward me are precious. He fashioned (pre-determined) my days for me before I was even conceived. The mere fact that His plans for my life included a 35th birthday are proof enough that He has a plan for me that is beyond what I could dream up on my own.

So when I wake up on April 9, 2014, I will not complain about my wrinkles or beg Him for Prince Charming, but rather I will praise Him for making me awesome and unique! I will thank Him for another day, another birthday to celebrate the life that He chose for me to live. 

And then, I'll live it.

~Rebecca Phillips

TIME WITH TREES

As a child I spent my balmy Alabama summers hanging in trees. Without an invitation from anyone, I was drawn to trees like paperclips to a magnet. My parents rented this old, run-down house in a run-down neighborhood, but it had three magnificent climbing-trees in the backyard. Childhood heaven! I didn’t care if the kid next door didn’t want to play with me on a given day…I had my trees. Playing alone didn’t scare me.

Grasping hold of any low-hanging bough with my heel hooked over the top, I would deftly pull myself up onto the rugged appendage. Hand over hand, foot over foot; I would pull myself up and up until I ran out of comfort zone. Instinctively, I knew to test each branch for strength as I ascended, but descending, for some reason, wasn’t always as easy. One couldn’t always go back the way they had come, nevertheless, no adult came running out of the house to instruct me from the ground. I had to figure it out. Cool “seats” were discovered, imaginary rooms appeared for my amusement, and it was there, in my leafy mansion, where my love for nature was born.

Hands, feet, arms, legs, stretched and pulled and reached, working together seamlessly. Unbeknownst to me, I was building coordination, strong muscles, critical thinking, risk assessment and motor skills.

But to me, it was just fun to be free as a breeze exercising my imagination for hours upon hours. In fact, there was even enough time to get bored, oh no!

And yes, there was danger. Imagine the stunned expression on my face the day a branch broke, and the wind left my lungs. But the growth I experienced was worth the risks.

Children naturally climb whatever is at their disposal: barns, boulders, bridges, fences. Sadly, many children are kept inside by over-protective, germaphobic parents who squash the joy and liberty right out of childhood. Over-scheduled children and their parents are stretched to their limits. Daydreaming and pretending and thinking are replaced by the rat race.

As we grow from children to adults, we find no time for contemplative prayer or reflection of God’s goodness, beauty and truth. We are harried, because we don’t make solitude and quietness a priority. Jesus continues to offer to lead us beside still waters and restore our souls, but we pay no attention.

Psalm 23: 1-2, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul.”

Oh how I wish I had a magnificent climbing-tree in my backyard now…sigh.

-Joyce Hague

Walking on Water

Several years ago, I was happily teaching fourth grade at Grace Baptist Academy.  I loved fourth-grade children. I still love them. They are energetic, funny, and eager to learn.  But something I heard in a faculty devotional made me wonder if I should think about a change.  Sheree Haley was the elementary principal at that time, and early in the year she challenged all of us to “get out of the boat” and trust God. 

I kept the little boat she gave us as a reminder. Now and then I would think about what “getting out the boat” might mean for me. I had recently finished a master’s degree in English (Rhetoric and Writing, to be specific) and wondered if I ought to think about teaching high school English. I have never been a fast decision maker, so I waited to say anything to anyone else.

Through a number of circumstances, God made it clear that moving to high school was His plan for me. In many ways, it did feel like getting out of a boat and walking on water. Some people I loved advised against it, but I really knew it was God’s leading in my life.  I was reminded of all this on Sunday morning when Lynn Tweedie sang these words: “Spirit, lead me where my trust is without borders.”  For me, the school “up the hill” seemed like a wilderness without borders—without the comfortable definition and routine I had enjoyed for eleven years.

But here’s what I want you to know: It was absolutely the right move. I wouldn’t go back.  And I am learning that God often leads where we think we might not want to go—until we obey and see that it was a great idea. The singers Phillips, Craig, and Dean have a song that says nearly the same thing: “I know it’s safe here on the shore, but freedom is worth dying for” (“Freedom of the Sea”). And (Can you stand another song reference?) Kris Delmhorst says, “Why should we not go where all maps fail?” (“Light of the Light”).

If “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13), then I can go where He tells me to go and do whatever hard thing He has for me. You can, too. And you will almost certainly love it!

 

--Sherry Poff

Rose's New Job

It would be several years before Rose would discover that her character had been struck down by a co-worker. This man privately told her superiors that she was undermining the work, which was totally untrue. Fresh out of college, she was still enthusiastic and excited about what she thought would be her life’s work and was giving her best efforts.

She applied for a full-time position within the Christian ministry where she had been working part-time for four years, but without explanation or even acknowledgement, those in authority chose to pass over her request for the position. She was left feeling confused and unappreciated as she had poured herself into the work with passion and commitment. Other people outside the organization interviewed for the job, but Rose was ignored. A pleasant, attractive man was selected for the job and presented to the staff. He graciously accepted the “welcomes” and well-wishes that were offered. Mortified and red-faced, Rose sat in humiliation like butter melting in a hot skillet. She hoped no one would notice her discomfort.

That night, Rose went home with her head hung and spilled out the whole disappointing story to God, her gentle and understanding Father. He, above all others, knew what it meant to be treated with disrespect and to be accused unjustly. He listened quietly to all of her complaints until her tears were spent.

The next day, word came that the new hire had called to turn down the job. He stated that he felt troubled in his spirit and knew that he did not belong there. In desperation, Rose’s boss asked her to fill the position. She was tempted to refuse, but she knew that’s where God wanted her to be. Focusing on Jesus, she knew she had a more important Boss to please and would work to please Him alone. She was reminded that God had a good plan for her life and was in control, even when circumstances looked impossible.

Hebrews 12: 1-3 tells us, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

-Joyce Hague